Biological sciences

Kleptoparatism in tropical seabirds: vulnerability and avoidance responses of a host species, the red-footed booby

Article Abstract:

A study was conducted to assess the significance of kleptoparasitism in red-footed boobies in terms of their relation to frigatebirds. Findings revealed that kleptoparasitism resulted in below 1% of the boobies losing their food. Those flying in a group higher than 50 meters or after dusk had a slimmer probability of being pursued than others. Observations indicated that the coexistence of boobies with frigatebirds may have resulted in avoidance behavior. Lastly, the masked booby should be more at risk than the red-footed booby when returning to land.

Nesting of the Northern Fulmar on the western Bering Sea coast

Article Abstract:

Several large, previously unknown, Nothern Fulmar colonies were found during a survey conducted between Jun 1 and Jun 22, 1990 onthe west coast of the Bering Sea. This discovery more than doubled the previously known populations of Northern Fulmars on the Western Bering Sea coast. Fifty-five thousand pairs of the specie were counted in 10 colonies during the survey. Prior to this survey, onle three fulmar nestings areas were known on the Western Bering Sea coast.

Variations in the distributions of marine birds with water mass in the Northern Bering Sea

Article Abstract:

The foraging distributions of seabirds in the Northern Bering Sea were investigated. Data were collected intermittently from the Chirikov Basin lying between Siberia and Alaska from Jul 1984 to Aug 1986. The data collection procedure included the identification and analysis of the behavior of all birds seen within a 300 meter arc from the front of the ship used in the expedition. Significant habitat preferences were found for all but one of the species studied.